News for hackers. Stuff that matters.

A comment on Sixty percent of US consumers say 'AI' in brand messaging is a turnoff. Parent comment

Re:Sixty percent of US consumers say 'AI' in brand messaging... by throw4847285 on Wednesday June 17, 2026 @12:27PM (#48572761)
Have you encountered those voicemail AI customer service representatives? Those can't route you anywhere so you're stuck talking to a robot.

I was just trying to schedule my daughter's dentist appointment and had to spend 10 minutes talking to an AI when I could have found a time that worked in 30 seconds with a human. And at the end of the whole process, she got my daughter's name wrong. It was demoralizing.

[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:Sixty percent of US consumers say 'AI' in brand messaging... by JoshTriplett on Wednesday June 17, 2026 @04:36PM (#48576505)
I have yet to encounter a phone system that refuses to provide a human, at least within business hours. But I've encountered those online, definitely, that aggressively want to hide any way to reach a person for something that you know in advance will be outside their script.
[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:Sixty percent of US consumers say 'AI' in brand messaging... by throw4847285 on Wednesday June 17, 2026 @04:51PM (#48576703)
This one rings until it's about to go to voicemail, and then all of a sudden a fake dial tone starts and an AI agent picks up. I've only encountered this type for small business owners, like dentist offices and lawyers. But it doesn't seem like there is a way to reach the actual person. I could be wrong though.
[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:Sixty percent of US consumers say 'AI' in brand messaging... by mrgoldenbrown on Wednesday June 17, 2026 @06:09PM (#48577633)
Jetblue wouldn't let me talk to a human unless I agreed to pay $25.
[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:Sixty percent of US consumers say 'AI' in brand messaging... by LorenPechtel on Wednesday June 17, 2026 @06:17PM (#48577718)
I've hit phone trees with no path to a human. Haven't gotten stuck on an AI yet, but I'm sure it will happen. The AIs never have the ability to resolve the odd cases.
[ Parent | on HN ]